Missy Elliott Battling Devastating Graves’ Disease

The beloved Hip-Hop star is undergoing radiation to battle the debilitating disease.

You may have noticed that beloved "Work It" hitmaker Missy Elliott has been missing from action for a while. Sadly, it's not because she's been holed up working on her own Detox album – for the past three years, Elliot has been battling Graves' disease, she confessed to People magazine. The disease, which severely impacts the autoimmune system and thyroid, has been massively debilitating to the Hip-Hop star.

"I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping," she recalled. "I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed. I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad — I couldn't even use a pen."

As a result, Missy has had to change several habits and ways in which she handles daily activities. Unfortunately, the disease has also impacted Eliott's mental facilities. The singer also faced drastic mood swings and hair loss while undergoing radiation for hyperthyroidism.

Unfortunately, there is no present cure for Graves' disease. Elliot's case was caught early on, however, which indicates that her condition can be maintained so that she can live as close to a normal life as possible. Tragically, however, the health of those with the disease has been known to deteriorate over time.

"I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising," she explained. "My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months. [But] you live with it for the rest of your life.

Determined not to become a hindsight casualty to an uncommon disease, Elliott is making plans to return to artistic relevance. She recently announced plans to produce a comeback album with the help of Timbaland.

We'll be waiting with well-wishes & open ears.

Update: Missy has released a statement about the news:

“There have been some inaccuracies reported in regards to my diagnosis with Grave’s Disease, so I wanted to clear things up. I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease about three years ago but it really hasn’t slowed me down at all. I rocked my performance on VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ tribute to Timbaland last year. I’ve written and produced a bunch of Grammy-nominated, #1 hits for artists like Keyshia Cole, Monica and Jasmine Sullivan. I toured the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. And on top of all that, I’m working on my new album. I feel great. Under my doctor’s supervision, I’ve been off medication for about a year and I’m completely managing the condition through diet and exercise.”